The Phillies collected a much needed series win Thursday night, taking the series closer against the Chicago Cubs by a final score of 8-0. Brad Miller put on a clinic at Wrigley Field, going 3-5 with three home runs and five RBIs. The Phillies won an important three games from the struggling Chicago Cubs, who have lost 12 out of their last 13. Philadelphia has now won 5 of 7, and closed the gap to four games back from the New York Mets.

Offensive inconsistencies have been a struggling piece of this Phillies team throughout the first half of this season, but this series was the complete opposite, especially last night. Putting up 39 runs in four games was the peak reason for success this week in Wrigley. Big bats heating up, continues solid hitting from your core guys, and sparks from bench players all played a role in the teams insane offensive performance.

With Rhys Hoskins heating up at Wrigley this week, Joe Girardi made a questionable move by sending the big fella to the bench for the series finale. Although Adbert Alzolay’s stats have shown a significant difference between lefties and righties for the Cubs, taking a hot Rhys Hoskins out of a lineup doesn’t ever seem like a good idea. Well man, were we wrong about Girardi’s decision making last night.

Brad Miller got the start at first base last night and he sure did not disappoint. Bamboo Brad stepped up to the plate for his second at-bat of the night in the top half of the third inning, and sent a long shot into the opposite field stands.

Miller has been a huge bench presence for the Phillies ever since we signed him in 2019. After heading to St. Louis for the 2020 season, Brad was back with the Phils for this 2021 year and has been mashing baseballs. But he wasn’t done, as he walked up to the plate in the top of the 5th, and jacked another one to right field.

After giving the Phillies the 4-0 lead with his second home run of the night, the Phillies were heading into the bottom of the fifth with a comfortable (but not comfortable for this team) lead. But Bamboo Brad wanted MORE, and did something that no Phillie has done since Jayson Werth in 2008.

Yes. A THIRD homer on the night for Brad Miller. Straw hats were flying, Brad had a stack of them going on his head, and the Phillies took a 6-0 just like that. Didi would add on a two run shot to make it an eight run lead, and the bullpen would come in to close it out.

Zach Eflin did everything he needed to do tonight. Although the pitch count got high early, he settled down and set this team up for a big win. Eflin finished with 6 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, and 5 Ks on the night, bringing his ERA down to 3.88 on the year. The Phillies’ bullpen did a great job closing last night’s game out for Eflin, with the trio of Archie Bradley, Hector Neris, and Ranger Suarez allowing no runs in the final three innings.

I don’t know where all of these home run hats come from. Archie Bradley apparently has a whole stack of them in his locker, but somebody better start weaving more hats with the way this team is hitting right now . A must win series from the Phils versus a depleted Cubs team capped off a big week, with confidence shooting through the roof within this clubhouse.

The team now sits at 42-43 on the season, four back of the NL East leading New York Mets. The Phillies head to Fenway Park this weekend for a three game series with the 54 win Red Sox before going into the All-Star break. Vince Velasquez, Matt Moore, and Aaron Nola are set to take the hill for the team. Heat up, get your straw hat, and let’s end this first half on a high note.

Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Phillies